Matrix for typographical machines



Dec. 27, 1927.

H. R. FREUND MATRIX FOR TYPOGRAPHICAL MACHINES Filed June 25. 1926 III 1 an m 4 fm mug/v TOR Z fir/ 0721. 2 713 Patented Dec. 27, 1927.

UNITED STATES 654,368 PATENT OFFICE.

HERMAN R. FREUND. OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO INTERTYPE COR- PORATION, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

MATRIX FOR TYPOGRAPHICAL MACHINES.

Application filed June 25, 1926.

The present invention relates to improvements in the matrices used in typographical machines of the general class shown and described in U. S. Patent No. 436,532, granted September 16, 1890, wherein the matrices which bear in intaglio in their rear edges type-forming letters or characters, are assembled in a line and a type bar or slug is cast against its rear side, whereby a reproduction of the type-forming characters of the matrices composing the line is obtained on the type bar.

It is usual to provide such matrices at their front edges with reference characters which correspond with the type-forming characters in their rear edges, these reference characters being visible to the compositor, through the open front of the assembler frame or elevator in which the matrices are commonly assembled into lines, and it is the usual practice of compositors to closely observe and constantly refer to these reference characters on the matrices while the latter are being assembled to form the lines in order to verify the correctness thereof. This intense concentration of the vision of the compositor upon the reference characters on the matrices imposes a considerable burden upon the compositors eyes, and his eyes frequently become strained, fatigued, or otherwise affected injuriously under such intense observation when matrices as heretofore generally made are used.

It has been found that the eye strain or fatigue frequently resulting from the use of ordinary matrices such as those heretofore used generally is due to the reflection of light from the compositors lamp, which is usually placed above and in front of the matrix line, back into the compositors eyes, and that this objectionable reflection is caused by the mirror-like effect of bright colored minute scratches, grooves, or abrasions which extend transversely across the front edges of the matrices and which are thus formed therein during polishing of these surfaces of the midi-ices. it having been heretofore the general practice, in view of manufacturing and other considerations, to polish the front edges of the matrices by movement of the polishing tool or medium in a" direction transversely across the edges of the matrices.

The object of the present invention is to overcome this objection which is inherent in Serial No. 118,536.

matrices of this class as heretofore made, the front surface of the matrix embodying the present invention and which bears the reference character being so prepared that it precludes reflection of light therefrom into the compositors eyes, thereby enabling.the compositor to concentrate his vision intensively on the reference characters in the front edges of the matrices for prolonged periods of composition without eyestrain or fatigue or other injurious effects upon the compositors eyes.

In the accompanying drawin Figure l is a front elevation of the matrix assembling elevator and adjacent parts of a typographical machine of the general class hereinhci'ore referred to, showing a line of matrices in course of assemblage in the elevator and displaying the reference characters on their front edges.

Figure 2 is a front view of a matrix such as that heretofore used generally in machines of this class.

Figure 3 is a diagrammatic view illustrating the ma nner in which light rays from the compositors lamp is reflected from the front edge of such a matrix into the compositors eyes.

Figure 4 is a diagrammatic view showing the front edge of an ordinary matrix on an enlarged scale and illustrating the manner in which light, from the compositors lamp is reflected by the transversely extending scratches, grooves or abrasions in the front edge thereof.

Figure 5 is a front elevation of the improved matrix embodying the present invention.

Figure 6 is a diagrammatic View illustrating the manner in which light rays from the compositors lamp are reflected downwardly or in a direction away from the compositors eyes by the improved matrix.

Figure 7 is a diagrammatic view showing the improved matrix on an enlarged scale and illustrating the manner in which the light rays from the compositors lamp are reflected downwardly.

In typographical machines of the general class hereinbefore referred to, the matrices are assembled successively in a frame or socalled assembling elevator 10, the matrices which are stored in iziagazines being released therefrom by manipulation of the usual keyboard by the compositor, the released matrices being delivered by a belt, part of which is shown, to a star-wheel 11 which operates to stack the matrices successively to form the line in the assembling elevator. Each matrix comprises a body 12, the rear edge 13 of which has a die cavity 14 therein which embodies a type-forming letter or character in intaglio, it being well understood in this artthat a cast is made against the rear face of each lineof assembled matrices, after the line has been justified in the well known way, whereby a type bar is obtained an edge of which bears type characters corresponding with the type-forming characters in the rear edges of the matrices composing the line. The front edge 15 of each matrix usually has a reference character 16 stamped or similarly formed therein, the reference character in the front edge of each matrix corresponding with the type-forming character in its rear edge, and the reference characters on the matrices are visible through the open front of the assembling elevator during the composition of each line, as will be seen from Figure 1. In practice, the compositor constantly refers to the reading line formed on the front edges of the matrices and to the reference characters on the individual matrices during the course of composition of each line, in order to determine the correctness of the composition thereof, and in order to render these reference characters visible to the compositor a lamp 17 usually known as the compositors lamp, is placed on the front of the machine at a height above the level at which the matrices areassembled to form the lines, this lamp being usually provided with a reflector 18 which focuses or directs light rays from the lamp onto the front edges of the matrices in the line. The compositors position at the keyboard of the machine is such that his eyes are normally at a level above that at which the matrix lines are assembled, E in Figures 3 and 6 representing diagrammatically the approximate normal position of the compositors eyes relatively to the lamp and the matrix line in course of composition.

It has been found that the composition of matrices such as those heretofore used in machines of this class, the eyes of the compositor became strained or fatigued, or otherwise inj uriously affected by light rays of considerable intensity which are reflected from the front edges of the matrices in the assembling elevator while the line is in course of composition. The path of these light rays when ordinary matrices are used is illustrated diagramn'iatically in Figure 3, A representing the light rays passing from the lamp 13 to the front edge of the matrix and A representing the reflected rays which proceed from the front edge to the eyes of the compositor. It has also been found that the reflection of these light rays from the front edge of the matrix upwardly to the eyes of the compositor is due to the presence of a great number of scratches, grooves or abrasions which are represented on an enlarged or exaggerated scale in Figure 4 and designated X thereir. These scratches, grooves or abrasions extend horizontally or transversely across the front edges of the matrices and those walls of the scratches, grooves or abrasions which slope in a direction forwardly and downwardly act, in effect, as mirrors which reflect the light rays a from the lamp in a direction upwardly and forwardly or in the path 6 so that these reflected'rays strike the eyes of the compositor. The light rays are thus reflected into the compositors eyes from the mirror or reflector surfaces of the scratches, grooves or abrasions in accordance with the law that the angle of reflection equals the angle of incidence. These scratches, grooves or abrasions which extend horizontally or transversely across the front edges of the matrices are produced during the polishing of these edges of the matrices,

it beingcommon practice heretofore to polish these edges of the matrices by movement of the polishing tool or medium in a direction transversely of these edges of the matrices, in view of manufacturing and other considerations.

The present invention enables matrices of this general class to be manufactured by the methods heretofore used generally, with the exception of the mode of polishing the front edges of the matrices, these front edges of the matrices, according to the present invention.being so polished as to preclude the objectionable reflection of light therefrom into the eyes of the compositor. Accordin to the present invention, the front edges 0 the matrices are polished by movement of the polishing tool or medium in a direction longitudinally of the front ed es of the ma trices and, hence, no horizonta or transversely extending scratches, grooves or abrasions will be formed in this edge of thematrices, but, on the contrary, any resulting scratches, grooves or abrasions will extend longitudinally or vertically of the front edges. In consequence, when matrices made in this way are assembled in the assembling elevator, the light rays A from the compositors lamp and which are directed downwardly and rearwardly to the front edges of the matrices in the assembling elevator will be reflected in a downward and forward direction as indicated at C in Figure 6, in accordance with the law that the angle of'refleetion is equal to the angle of incidence. The light from the lamp reflected from the front edges of the matrices is thus directed away from the compositors eyes and, hence, eye-strain or fatigue or other injurious effects resulting from the use of ordinary matrices as heretofore made, is avoided. In Figure 7, which represents diagrammatically the front character-bearing edge of the improved matrix, a represents any given light ray passing from the compositors lamp to the front edge of the matrix, and 0 indicates the angle at which such ray is reflected by this surface of the matrix. Any scratches, grooves or abrasions that may be present in the front edge of the improved matrix will extend vertically or substantially so therein and such scratches, grooves or abrasions would reflectthe light rays from the compositors lamp more or less laterally as well as downwardly,

but the downward reflection of the light rays precludes such rays from reaching the compositors eyes.

I claim as my invention 1. A matrix for typographical machines having a front reference-character-bearing eglge which'is polished longitudinally there- 0 2 A matrix for typographical machines having a polished front reference-characterbearing edge which is devoid of polishing abrasions extending transversely thereof.

3. A matrix for typographical machines having a polished front reference-characterbearing edge the polishing abrasions in wihich extend longitudinally only in said e ge.

4. A matrix for typographical machines having a polished front reference-characterbearing edge which presents a continuous plane surface longitudinally thereof whereby all light rays striking said surface from above it will be reflected downwardly therefrom. v a Y 5.-'The improvementin the art of manufacturing matrices for typographical machines which comprises olishing the 'front character-bearing edge, 0 a matrix by movement of the polishing medium in a direction longitudinally of said edge.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set In hand.

y HERMAN R. FREUND. 

